Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-08-05

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From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ALBANIA

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ALBANIA

[03] TWO SERBIAN POLICEMEN INJURED IN ATTACKS

[04] ITALIAN MILITARY DELEGATION VISITS ALBANIA

[05] UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS DAMAGE RAILWAY LINE OF BAJZA

[06] DP PROTESTS AGAINST DISMISSAL OF MILITARY OFFICIALS

[07] ALBANIAN PM MEETS GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER

[08] PROTOCOL OF AID AND COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIAN AND GREEK MINISTRIES OF DEFENCE

[09] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS HIS GREEK COUNTERPART

[10] LEADERS OF ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT MEETS WITH GREEK DELEGATION

[11] PRESIDENT OF ALBANIA MEETS WITH GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER

[12] FRROK aUPI APPOINTED DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ALBANIAN TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY

[13] NEW COUNCIL OF DEFENCE APPROVED

[14] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS MEETS GREEK DELEGATION

[15] GREECE READY TO SUPPORT ALBANIAN ECONOMY

[16] PRESIDENT MEIDANI MEETS LEADERS OF CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS OF ALBANIA

[17] GREECE GIVES ALBANIA ECONOMIC AID AND STARTS PROCEDURES FOR LEGALIZATION OF EMIGRANTS

[18] DP LEADER BERISHA MEETS WITH MR PANGALOS

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ALBANIA

Pangalos is now holding talks with his Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo.

He is also expected to meet other Albanian senior officials. kled/ak/sh/

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ALBANIA

Pangalos is holding talks now with his Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo at the Albanian Foreign Ministry.

He is also expected to meet the Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, President of the Republic Prof Dr Rexhep Meidani, parliamentary Speaker Skender Gjinushi and members of the parliamentary Foreign Commission.

Pangalos will hold talks with the leaders of the Democratic party and the Human Rights Union party.

The Greek delegation includes ministers and deputy ministers of the cabinet of the Socialist Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

A group of Greek parliamentarians attended the high-ranking delegations will have a series of meetings in the parliament and parliamentary Foreign Commission.

The talks will focuse on the relationships between the two countries, promotion of cooperation in such fields as order, defence, stimulation of Greek investments in Albania and others.

Albanian Prime minister Nano and Greek Foreign minister Pangalos will exchange notes on seasonal employment of Albanians in Greece.

The visit of the Greek government delegation in Albania is the first after the establishment of a new Albanian government which resulted from the June 20 elections. kled/ak/sh/

[03] TWO SERBIAN POLICEMEN INJURED IN ATTACKS

Radio Prishtina in the Serbian language said that policemen travelling by car were injured by automatic rifles in the commune of Skenderaj. The same sources said that another police car was attacked on Monday night at about 19.00 p.m. in the commune of Podujeva. None was injured.

Check points were built in Skenderaj and Podujeva under the pretext of chasing "terrorists" and police forces are terrorising Albanians. A tense situation is created in the two communes with police arrested and maltreated people. pta/a

[04] ITALIAN MILITARY DELEGATION VISITS ALBANIA

The Italian delegation had a special meeting with the Secretary of State for the Defence policy, Perikli Teta, who thanked him for the support and help of the Italian people to Albania in these difficult moments. He considered the Pelikan operation and multinational mission Alba led by Italy as an important support and contribution to democracy in Albania.

Head of the Italian military delegation, stressed the need to discuss and finalise as soon as possible a military technical agreement of assistance and cooperation. He promised possible aid in transport.

Teta assured the Italian side for the readiness of the Albanian military experts to discuss with responsibility and achieve a very necessary agreement for the Albanian army which is in its restructuring process.

Two military delegations, headed by the chief of the general staff Major General Adem Copani and Rear Admiral Di Paolo, continue technical talks to find new dimensions for cooperation between the Albanian army and the Italian one.

The Italian delegation was received by the Secretary of State for Euro Atlantic Integration in the Foreign Ministry Maqo Lakrori. ak/

[05] UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS DAMAGE RAILWAY LINE OF BAJZA

Smugglers transport the railway line to Montenegro.

This is not the first time that this railway line has been damaged by smugglers. Shkoder-Bajze railway line is the one who links Albania with Montenegro and Europe. The aid from the Council of Europe will be delivered through this railway line to Albania. ake/kled/ak/

[06] DP PROTESTS AGAINST DISMISSAL OF MILITARY OFFICIALS

The DP called on military officials not to resign from their tasks but fulfil them according to the law.

"After Brokaj's statements hide the perverse aims of present government officials to return in power all incriminated people of the communist regime. Through this, the Minister Brokaj, 'commissar' of the Vlora battle of 1997, is trying to reward criminals, terrorists and bandits, thieves and smugglers like, Xh. Kocia, A. Qilimi, L. Petroshati, A. Gozhita, which are included in his closest circle," the statement said. pas/ak/

[07] ALBANIAN PM MEETS GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER

Nano expressed the thanks for the Greek people and the government for the readiness and contribution given in the context of the bilateral and multilateral aid to overcome the Albanian crisis.

During the meeting they underlined the necessity to continue the cooperation and construction of an effective partnership, which respects the mutual interests and the national sovereignty, the necessity to strengthen the friendship of good neighbourhood, which contributes in strengthening of the regional stability.

Both parties considered the progress and the Albanian-Greek relations as an example of the establishment of bilateral relations in the region, and as an element of the solution of the regional problems in the climate of peace and dialogue.

Pangallos made a description of the forms and fields of cooperation and investments, which will be detailed in the bilateral meetings of both ministries. A concrete and symbolic step was also considered the reaching of the agreements in the humanitarian field, mainly in regulating the statute of the Albanian seasonal employees in Greece, as one of the biggest humanitarian problems in the bilateral problems.

In this meeting was also discussed about the way of the Greek assistance for the integration of Albania in the Euro-Atlantic structures, which is one of the main aims of the program of the new Government.

After this meeting, Nano participated in the ceremony of exchanging the Notes between both Foreign Ministers, Milo and Pangallos, with regard to the accord on the seasonal employment of the Albanian citizens in Greece, ends the report of the PM's spokesman. /kei/mt/k

[08] PROTOCOL OF AID AND COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIAN AND GREEK MINISTRIES OF DEFENCE

In this protocol are also defined the fields of the assistance for the Albanian army, for the organization of the armed forces, for the training of the officers, lieutenant officers and military men, for the logistic support, of the military medical system, etc.

The Protocol was signed by the State Secretary for the Policy of Defence, Perikli Teta, and the deputy Minister of Defence of Greece, Dimitris Apostolakis.

Attending the ceremony of signing of this document were also the Albanian Minister of Defence, Sabit Brokaj, the Chief of the Army General Staff, general major Adem Copani, and other senior military men. /a.ke/kei/mt/

[09] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS HIS GREEK COUNTERPART

According to the spokesman, Milo, after extending welcome to his counterpart and the delegation he heads, said that "the new Albanian government has the will to further develop the Albanian-Greek relations, to the interest of both peoples, of peace, cooperation and stability in the Balkans."

"The good relations with Albania and its stability, are one of the axes of the Greek foreign policy," he said.

Further on, the Albanian Foreign Minister, Milo, expressed the thanks of the Albanian government to the Greek government for the aid given during this year, mainly with the participation in the "Alba" mission.

Minister Milo stressed that "the Albanian party is interested to legalize the emigrants in Greece. The signing of the agreement for the seasonal employment, as well as the exchange of the protocol today regarding this issue, are a very important step for the legalization of the Albanian emigrants in Greece," he said.

Milo also said that there exist many possibilities of cooperation between both countries in the realization of the aid from programs like PHARE, CROSS BORDER, and also expressed the wish of the Albanian party to promote the inter-border cooperation, set up sister-like cities, for which a great help will be putting into function of the common economic commissions.

Milo stressed that the Albanian government will treat the question of the Greek minority in a coherent way, based on the international documents.

Pangallos reconfirmed once again the will of the Greek government to help Albania to profit from the programs and aid of the European Union.

The parallel meetings in the other ministries aim at strengthening the bilateral cooperation, both in the infrastructure and offering of an aid of the Greek government for the Albanian government worth 2,5 milliard drachmas, as well as the delivery of the credits informed before.

With regard to the legalization of the Albanian emigrants in Greece, Minister Pangallos said that "the Greek government is working in this direction and the seasonal employment is a positive step for this issue." He also expressed the will of his government for cooperation in other fields as well.

The Greek Minister invited his counterpart Milo for a visit in Greece.

Today, by midday, in the headquarters of the Council of Ministers, both Ministers Milo and Pangallos signed the protocol for entering into force of the agreement for seasonal employment of the Albanian emigrants in Greece, and exchanged the instruments for the ratification of this accord. /a.ke/kei/mt/

[10] LEADERS OF ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT MEETS WITH GREEK DELEGATION

Gjinushi thanked for the support given by Greece, regarding the conduct of the parliamentary elections in Albania, as well as the concrete contribution in the improvement of the situation, with the participation in the Multinational Protection Force.

"The fact that you are in Albania today, among the firsts after the new parliamentary elections mean that your engagement is significative and concrete, even for the composition of this delegation with important members of the Greek government," said Gjinushi.

Talking about the activity of the new Albanian parliament, Gjinushi said that "we aim at realizing a constitution according to the coherent standards, which will be fruit of an integrating and non party process."

"The relations with Albania, said Pangallos, are the defining criteria in the foreign policy of Greece and the Greek-Albanian cooperation has a great future."

He offered the predisposition for juridical and technical assistance from the Greek Parliament and Government for the Albanian parliament.

"The stimulation of exchanges in the border zones will be the good beginning to enlarge the relations of good neighbouring between both countries," said Pangallos, while underlined that step by step the Greek will work for the solution of the problems of the Albanian emigrants in Greece, aiming at their final legalization.

The Greek Foreign Minister, Pangallos and the group of deputies were also received in the commission of the foreign policy of the People's Assembly by the deputy chairman of this commission, Bashkim Zeneli, and other members. /a.ke/kei/mt/

[11] PRESIDENT OF ALBANIA MEETS WITH GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER

The President highlighted with pleasure the will of the Greek Government and people to be close to Albania in these difficult days of its institutional and economic reconstruction, the President's press and information office reports.

After expressing his thanks for the assistance of Greece in overcoming of the Albanian crisis also in the context of the multinational forces, President Meidani added that the cooperation so far between the two countries has created the human and political basis for the ratification of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation by the parliaments of the two countries.

Along with the assistance in all the fields in the bilateral context, Mr Meidani asked a greater commitment of Greece to help in the context of EU, NATO and especially for the successful crowning of the Donators' Conference in October this year.

"I note with pleasure that the bridges of friendship between our two countries are being continuously consolidated and that the Greek minority in Albania and the community of Albanian emigrants in Greece are serving in this direction."

The President hailed the latest stands of the Greek authorities which were also confirmed by Minister Pangallos during the meeting, for the legalization of Albanian emigrants in Greece and for the creation of all conditions for their free movement.

"Liberalization of visas for various social groupings such as businessmen, representatives of science, culture, art, will contribute more to our bilateral exchanges," said President Meidani who asked the full activation of bilateral commissions, especially that of economy, for the creation of the conditions for the growth of Greek investments in our country."

Pangallos considered the presence of an extensive Greek delegation as a significant fact of the readiness of the Greek Government and people to help Albania.

"The Albanian people," said the Greek Minister, "manifested their political maturity in the June 29, 1997 elections and for this they deserve support."

He informed President Meidani of the success of the talks and the fields of the Greek assistance for the Albanian economy and institutions adding that Albanian emigrants in Greece would have the best possible treatment.

Pangallos expressed his understanding for the liberalization of visas for the category of employees who have continuous cooperation with Greece.

With regard to investments, he said that "we will continue all public investments and those related with the projects of the European Union."

Pangallos linked the growth of the bilateral economic volume and the Greek investments with the gradual process of the restitution of order and public security in Albania. ake/kei/xh/

[12] FRROK aUPI APPOINTED DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ALBANIAN TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY

[13] NEW COUNCIL OF DEFENCE APPROVED

In the capacity of the Chairman of the Council of Defence, Mr Meidani proposed the following members of the Council:

      - The chairman of the Presidency of the People's Assembly,
                                              Skender Gjinushi.
      - Chairman of the Council of Ministers  Fatos Nano
      - Minister of Defence                   Sabit Brokaj
      - Foreign Minister                      Paskal Milo
      - Interior Minister                     Neritan Ceka
      - Finance Minister                      Arben Malaj
      - Minister of Public Affairs and
        Transport                             Gaqo Apostoli
      - Minister of Public Economy and
        Privatization                         Ylli Bufi
      - Chairman of National Information
        Service                               Arben Karkini
      - Chief of Army General Staff           Adem Copani.

The creation of the provisional parliamentary commission for the rehabilitation of the victims and invalids of the past months as a result of the unrest throughout Albania was also approved. The Ad Hoc Commission consists of 11 people, five of whom of the Socialist Party, two of the Democratic Party and one deputy of the Social Democratic Party, one of the Liberal Group, one of the Human Rights Party and one of the United Right Wing.

The plenary session of the People's Assembly continued with debates on the elections of the 10 new members of the Leading Council of the Albanian Radio and Television and with the preparation of the lists of our parliamentary delegations which will take part in European parliamentary organizations. xh/k

[14] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS MEETS GREEK DELEGATION

Minister Sherifi stressed the establishment and development of concrete contacts in the local and regional level, aiming at the decentralization of the government, based on the Charter of the Autonomy of Local Government. In this aspect, he said, the cooperation between border zones in the all the viewpoints, will be a model to be distributed throughout the territory of Albania.

Mr Sherifi familiarized the Greek senior officials with the programs of the new Albanian government. "The priorities will be the opening up of new jobs through a contemporary development of the labour market, make active the institutions of the professional training, where we wait and hope on the technical and material assistance, offered by the Greek party", he said.

A prior place in the meeting took the problem of the Albanian emigrants in Greece, the adoption of the accord for the seasonal employment, as well as the rights and duties of the Albanian emigrants.

Mr Protopapas showed complete understanding regarding this issue. "The agreement of the seasonal employment," already ratified in May 1997, will be soon implemented, he said. With regard to the legalization of the Albanian emigrants in Greece, he said that it is thought the process to pass through two phases: first the registration of them all by the Greek authorities to issue temporary work permits, to pass on the second phase, working and staying permits for a long time. "All the procedures will be carried out in accordance with the Greek legislation and that of the Council of Europe, so that the Albanian emigrants avoid any kind of exploitation and discrimination", said Sherifi.

During the meeting they agreed to sign several cooperation agreements between the Ministries of Labour and OAED and Albanian counterpart "National Service of Employment", two institutions of Social Securities for the support and participation in the PHARE programs, widening of the activities of NGO-s, all these within a short time. /a.ke/mt/k

[15] GREECE READY TO SUPPORT ALBANIAN ECONOMY

"Improvement of the management of the public sectors and an intensive process of privatization, are our main directions," said Minister Bufi, who explained that here are included the sectors of energy, oil, chrome and copper.

According to Bufi, the process of privatization should be extended also in these important sectors of the Albanian economy.

The Greek deputy minister shared the same opinion when he said that "privatization is better in this stage to encourage the development."

Minister Bufi expressed the readiness for cooperation with the Greek government in all the fields, laying the stress on the inter-ministerial cooperation.

On his part, Mr Baltas expressed the Greek readiness to assist Albania and mentioned the talks in the Greek Ministry of Economy with ex-Prime Minister Bashkim Fino to give Albania a credit of 20 billion drachmas, 10 per cent of which will be in the form of a grant. pas/xh/k

[16] PRESIDENT MEIDANI MEETS LEADERS OF CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS OF ALBANIA

The leaders of the Confederation wished Mr Meidani for the high post of the Head of the State in this period with responsibilities for the fates of Albania, to overcome the crisis and the restoration of the country.

In the meeting was also discussed about the place and the role of the trade unions, for the normal functioning of a democratic system and for the necessity of establishing a real partnership between the state, employees and employers.

Kastriot Muca informed President Meidani for the requests that the National Council of the Confederation of the Trade Unions of Albania will present to the government, which make the basis for an accord between the government and the Confederation. /a.ke/mt/k

[17] GREECE GIVES ALBANIA ECONOMIC AID AND STARTS PROCEDURES FOR LEGALIZATION OF EMIGRANTS

The Greek Foreign Minister, Pangallos, the Minister of Order Romeos and the deputy Minister of Defence Apostolakis informed the reporters present of the meetings with Albanian authorities and their results.

"Greece will give an aid of 2 billion drachmas for the state budget and 18 million drachmas through other ways," said Pangalos.

"Documents were exchanged for the agreement of seasonal cooperation at a time when the procedure for the legalization of Albanian emigrants in Greece will start," he added.

He stressed among others that there are no xenophobes and racists in Grrece.

Pangalos and Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo informed of the signing today of the protocol for the entering into force of the agreement of seasonal employment of Albanian emigrants in Greece.

Apostolakis spoke of the Protocol for Aid and Cooperation for the Armed Forces between the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Albania and the National Defence Ministry of Greece, which was signed today and which determined the fields of assistance for the Albanian army, for the organization of the armed forces, the training of officers and soldiers, logistic support, the military medical system, etc.

Romeos spoke of the Greek commitment to assist the Albanian police and said that in the meeting with his Albanian counterpart they concluded on some acts for technical support and training for the Albanian police."

"The results of the visit marked a high qualitative level in our relations," said Milo, voicing the hope that Greece will help its neighbour Albania also in as a member of EU and NATO.xh/k

[18] DP LEADER BERISHA MEETS WITH MR PANGALOS

As the DP press and information office reports, Mr Pangalos appreciated the valuable contribution of Mr Berisha in the process of national reconciliation and the realisation of the political solution to the crisis in Albania. He expressed his thanks and gratitude for the contribution of Berisha to the cooperation, friendship between the two countries and the determination that this relations continue.

Mr Berisha briefed the Greek Minister of DP stands towards the latest events in the country. "We recognized the present parliament not as an electoral process but as a political solution," he said. Berisha added that DP has not taken part in the parliament sittings, but it will not boycott it. "We have promised to make a constructive opposition but we are so concerned about the unprecedented revenge that SP and its allies have undertaken at all levels. The stand of the parliament towards two deputies of the DP list was the best example to this revenge," said Berisha, laying the stress on the dismissal from their jobs of the people who were trained and specialized for the reforms in all the fields, political, economic and legislative. "We expect that the Government will restore order and ruin the gangs, restabilize the economy and normalize the living conditions in this very difficult situation for the country. Our will is that the government must encourage by all manner of means the integration into EU, which must be our principal objective," said Berisha.

Mr Pangalos expressed the desire of his country to help as much as possible in the stabilization and normalization of the life in Albania, a will which was hailed by Berisha, ends the report of the DP press and Information office. pas/xh/k

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